If you have a passion for photography and an itch to explore the world, you can combine those two desires and make money with photography while traveling.
There are so many different ways to monetize photography I can’t recommend just one, so in this article I’ll be walking through 17 different routes of how to make money with photography, particularly for the intrepid explorer.
If you have an eye for a great photograph, love to see and experience new places and burn with entrepreneurial ambition, this could be the start of an incredible journey.
How to Make Money With Photography; 17 Fun & Actionable Strategies
1. Sell Prints of Your Photos Online
The best place to start is to sell prints of your photos online. Using an online platform such as Etsy or Redbubble, you can sell your images anywhere in the world, while having control over the pricing and sales of your photos.
The key to successfully selling prints of your photographs is to focus on the quality of your images. Make sure your photos are well composed, free of any distractions and showcase different parts of the world that you’ve explored.
This will give your photos a unique flair and make them more desirable for potential customers.
When it comes to pricing, it’s important not to undervalue your work yet stay competitive in the marketplace. Spend some time researching other photography prints online to get an idea of fair pricing for the quality and size of your prints.
As an added bonus, you may want to offer discounts to customers who purchase multiple prints from you.
Creating a website can help you to gain more exposure, but don’t underestimate the power of social media. Build your presence on Instagram, Facebook or TikTok and let your followers know when you post new photos to your site. Not only will this increase your brand awareness, but it can also help to drive more traffic to your online store.
Selling prints of your photos online is a great way to make money with photography while traveling the world. Take time to showcase your photos in the best light, price them fairly, and market them effectively via social media.
These steps will ensure that you can earn a steady income from your photography.
2. Sell Your Photos as Digital Downloads
Alongside selling physical prints of your work, offer them as digital downloads.
You can sell the digital download as a bonus to a physical print, set up your store so you only sell digital downloads, meaning lower overheads and a bigger profit margin or sell to stock sites who already have customers in their millions to sell to.
The easiest way to get started is to create a store on Etsy and create a zip file of all the varying print options for the buyer that they can download upon purchase.
If selling to stock sites, create accounts with Shutterstock or Dreamstime who are always looking for good quality images that people can buy for personal and commercial use.
Creating your own store is likely to be more profitable, but selling on stock sites means there is an audience waiting to buy your work.
3. Create and Sell Photo Books.
Creating and selling photo books is a great way to make money with photography while also traveling the world.
Photo books can be created quickly and easily from a selection of themed digital images.
The good news is that you don’t need to be a Photoshop wizard or a graphic designer to create beautiful photo books; there are several websites available such as blurb.com or xpress.lulu.com, that allow you to easily and quickly create your own photo book in just a few clicks.
In fact even Apple now partners with various apps to create photo books and other assets directly inside the apple photo app.
When creating a photo book, play up the storytelling aspect of it. Give it a narrative, let the images do the speaking, combine captivating photographs with witty text or insightful descriptions to captivate your audience.
The design should be kept simple and informative with an attention to detail and unique elements that will make your photo book stand out from the crowd. With the proper craftsmanship, you’ll be able to deliver a visually stunning and beautiful product to your customers.
Sell your book on your own website, on a platform such as Etsy or Amazon.
4. Sell Your Photos on Merchandise on Etsy or Redbubble.
Another great option for how to make money with photography is to turn your art into designs for products and sell them on Etsy or Redbubble.
By integrating with an app such as Printify on Etsy or creating a store on Redbubble, you can upload your photo, choose some products, set a price and let them handle the rest.
Depending on the products you chose, your photo will be printed on a variety of items such as t-shirts, phone cases, laptop and iPad covers, mugs and more. The print on demand platform will handle the printing and shipping.
When using a platform such as Printify with Etsy, you’ll pay for the cost of the product and Etsy selling fees, so your profit will be whatever you marked the product up as. On Redbubble you’ll receive anywhere from 20% – 60% of the selling price.
Selling your photos on merchandise sites is an easy and affordable way to make money with photography. It’s also fun to get regular users wearing or using items with your photos printed on them and post them on Instagram to drive more sales.
5. Become a Stock Photographer
Being a stock photographer is an excellent way to make money with photography while traveling the world.
As a stock photographer, you are able to capture photographs from different locations and then offer them for sale to businesses or other organizations who need photographs for their projects.
This type of work requires some creativity and knowledge of the best locations to capture beautiful images that can be sold to clients.
You can begin to make money with stock photography by becoming a member of the various stock photography sites available online. Once you have joined, you can upload your images and designate the license agreement that each photo will fall under.
Some sites will even allow you to set a price point for your stock photos. Depending on the popularity of your image and the content you have produced, you can earn quite a bit of money.
Be sure to do your research and select the right stock company, so you can set the right price for your photographs and stand to make the most profit.
Additionally, utilize social media maketing plaforms to market your images and increase your chances of having them bought and downloaded. This type of work is ideal for any traveler who loves photography, as it allows you to be creative and make money all at once!
6. Teach Online Photography Classes or Workshops
Teaching photography online is a great way to make use of your skills and make money while you live the wanderer’s lifestyle.
With online learning becoming increasingly popular, the chances for budding photographers to teach their art are greater than ever.
You can show people how to make the most of their cameras, much like any physical classroom. Yet you can do it from a beach in Thailand, a small cafe in Paris, or anywhere else your travels take you!
One of the best ways to start teaching is to create a course website, such as a YouTube channel, Udemy or a tutorial website on a platform like Podia for example, where potential students can view your lessons.
Your classes could cover topics such as basic photography concepts, camera settings, editing and retouching, or advanced photo techniques. Just be sure to organize your lessons into achievable modules and find ways to differentiate yourself from other photographers.
Since photography classes can be time-consuming, it’s important to set a reasonable price and explain to potential students the value they can get from your personalized instruction. Don’t be afraid to set rates that are commensurate with your knowledge – you’re offering education, experience and expertise that others need.
Traveling and making money doesn’t have to be mutually exclusive! Teach photography workshops online to make use of your skills, show off your work and make some money while you travel.
7. Become an Influencer
Influencers have taken over the world of social media and their presence is only growing. By becoming an influencer, you can make money with photography in a variety of ways.
- Create incredible reels and shorts from your images and generate ad revenue share from sites such as TikTok and YouTube
- Use your social media presence to sell your merchandise, photo books or courses
- Create sponsorship deals with other brands who want to get in front of your engaged audience
- Promote other people’s products and get paid a commission for each sale
- Run specialized co-promotions with brands showcasing your designs on their products and sell to your audience for a revenue split
- Get free or discounted accommodation or tours for promoting or taking photos for a hotel or travel company
- Freelance for hotels or travel companies and get paid to create a portfolio of images for their brand.
Becoming an influencer requires gaining a substantial following on a variety of social media platforms by showcasing your photography to the world.
To get started, you’ll want to create a consist